Horses, Burros Available for Adoption in Oakdale

Residents of Oakdale and surrounding areas will have the opportunity to add a horse or burro to their families, when the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) brings its Wild Horse and Burro Adoption Program to the Oakdale Saddle Club, 1624 F St., on Saturday and Sunday, May 18 and 19.

The BLM will offer 30 horses, mostly yearlings, and 10 burros for public adoption. Anyone interested can preview the animals when they arrive at about 4 p.m. on Friday, May 17.

The event gates will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Adoptions begin with an hour of silent bidding at 10 a.m. Saturday. Animals not taken during bidding will be available for a $125 adoption fee.

Wild horses and burros are protected by a federal law, the Wild and Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act. The law recognizes the animals as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the west," and requires the BLM to manage the wild herds.

The BLM periodically gathers horses and burros to control herd populations on ranges shared with wildlife and domestic livestock. Herd sizes are controlled to ensure there is sufficient feed and water for all range users and to ensure that natural resources are not over-used.

For additional information on the adoption event or wild horse management, contact the BLM toll free at 1-866-4MUSTANGS or the Litchfield Corrals at (530) 254-6575. Information is also available online at www.wildhorseandburro.blm.gov.